Canadiens well-represented in NCAA Tournament

MONTREAL - The Canadiens won't be playing this weekend, but there'll still be plenty of hockey to watch.

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The NCAA Tournament begins on Friday with regional action at four sites across the United States.
Here's a look at the Habs' prospects participating in the festivities:
Cole Caufield and Jack Gorniak
The Wisconsin Badgers (20-9-1) are the top-seeded team in the Bridgeport Regional, which means Caufield, Gorniak and the rest of Tony Granato's group will open play against the fourth-ranked Bemidji State Beavers (15-9-3) on Friday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena. The game will be broadcast on RDS and RDS Direct at 1:00 p.m.
If Tony Granato's squad downs the Beavers in Connecticut, they'll face the winner of the other game between the Lake Superior State Lakers (19-6-3) and the UMass Minutemen (16-5-4) for a berth in the Frozen Four. That matchup would also be presented on RDS Info and RDS Direct at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Caufield led the nation with 28 goals and 49 points in 30 games this season. The former first-round selection of the Canadiens (15th overall) in 2019 is also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the NCAA.

For his part, Gorniak wrapped up his third season in a Badgers uniform with six goals, seven assists and 13 points in 30 games. He was a fourth-round selection of the Canadiens (123rd overall) in 2018.

Luke Tuch
Tuch and the Boston University Terriers (10-4-1) will battle the St. Cloud State Huskies (17-10-0) in the semifinal of the Albany Regional, which will be played at the Times Union Center on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Tuch enjoyed a solid freshman campaign in the collegiate ranks, finishing third in scoring on the Terriers with 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) in 15 games.

The six-foot-two, 203-pound forward was a second-round selection of the Canadiens (47th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Blake Biondi
Biondi and the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (14-10-2) will open the Fargo Regional on Friday against the Michigan Wolverines (15-10-1) at Scheels Arena in North Dakota. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
If the Bulldogs manage to down the Wolverines, they'll face the winner of the game between the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (21-5-1), who are the top-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament, and the American International Yellow Jackets (15-3-0).
Biondi registered two goals and five points in 24 games during his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth. He was a fourth-round selection of the Canadiens (109th overall) this past October.

Arvid Henrikson
Henrikson and Lake Superior State could battle Caufield and the Badgers in the final of the Bridgeport Regional if they win their opener against the University of Massachusetts. That game will get underway on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
During his second season with the Lakers, the 23-year-old defenseman amassed one assist and 27 penalty minutes in 28 games. Henrikson was a seventh-round selection of the Canadiens (187th overall) in 2016.
The winners of the regionals will punch their ticket to the Frozen Four, which will be held at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh from April 8-10.